Device for holding objects

ABSTRACT

In a device (1) for holding objects (2) consisting of: a plate-shaped support frame (4) in which a plurality of accommodation openings (5) are incorporated, and a cage (6) suitable for accommodating the respective objects (2), which cage (6) has four side walls (71 to 74) extending perpendicular to one another and a base (8) arranged between them, the cage (6) should be able to be connected to the support frame (4) as quickly as possible and at the same time a reliable and permanent operative connection between the cage (6) and the support frame (4) should be achieved. This is made possible by the fact that an adapter (11) is provided between the support frame (4) and the cage (6), which adapter (11) has a holding pedestal (12) projecting in the direction of the support frame (4), the holding pedestal (12) can be inserted into one of the accommodation openings (5) of the support frame (4) and locked therein, and the adapter (11) is made up of four support arms (131, 132, 133, 134) which are perpendicular to one another and by means of which a rectangular inner space (14) is formed in which the cage (6) can be inserted and is fixed by at least two undercuts which are formed respectively between two pairs of side walls (71, 72, 73, 74) of the cage (6) and the support arms (131, 132, 133, 134)of the adapter (11).

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATION

This patent application claims benefit of European Patent ApplicationNo. 20 178 166.3, filed Jun. 4, 2020, which patent application is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for holding objects inaccordance with the pre-characterising clause of Patent Claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

EP 3 608 246 A1 discloses such a device for holding objects, consistingof a plate-shaped support frame with rectangular accommodation openings,a holding body with an integrally formed locking pedestal, which can beinserted into one of the accommodation openings and rotated therein, anda base arranged between the holding body and the locking pedestal.Immediately adjacent to the base is a circular support section, andimmediately adjacent to the support section is a rectangular holdingplate attached to the pedestal in each case.

By means of the holding device disclosed therein, objects should beindividually attachable in or to the holding body in order to store themand to support them against damage during the transport process. Often,such devices are also used to feed the correspondingly stored objects toa cleaning or other treatment process, for example coating.

These holding devices have proved extremely useful in practice for theseparation of objects to be fed into one of the aforementioned workprocesses. However, these devices cannot be used for holding a varietyof objects in a single cage or holding body, because their internalcontours are precisely adapted to the respective objects in order toprevent possible movements of the objects inside the holding body.

For the storage of a plurality of items in a cage or holding body, thecurrent practice is as follows: the plurality of objects are placed in acage. Four support feet should be provided on the underside of the cage,which are locked on the support frame or on the accommodation openingsincorporated in the support frame. Accordingly, the support feet arefirst fastened to the support frame, namely in the exactly specifiedarea dimension of the cage, so that the cage can subsequently be placedon the four support feet.

Such devices suffer from the disadvantage that the cage is detachablyconnected to the respective support feet, because the cage is onlyplaced on the four support feet; there is no anchoring between the cageand the four support feet. Consequently, the support frame and the cageattached to it can only be moved in a narrowly limited angular position.It is not possible to shake the cage, for example to optimise cleaning,because the cage would become detached from the support feet and falldown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the task of the present invention to develop a devicefor holding objects of the aforementioned type in such a way that thecage can be connected to the support frame as quickly as possible and atthe same time a reliable and permanent operative connection is achievedbetween the cage and the support frame. Due to the prevailing locking ofthe cage on the support frame, various working processes should besubsequently feasible which allow rotation and/or pivoting of the cagewithout the cage being detached from the support frame.

This task is solved in accordance with the present invention by thefeatures of the characterising part of Patent Claim 1.

Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention are derivedfrom the subordinate claims.

In that an adapter is provided between the support frame and the cage,which adapter has a holding pedestal projecting in the direction of thesupport frame, in that the holding pedestal can be inserted into one ofthe accommodation openings of the support frame and can be lockedtherein, and in that the adapter is constructed from four support armswhich run perpendicular to one another and by means of which arectangular inner space is formed, in which the cage can be inserted andis fixed by at least two undercuts which are each formed between twopairs of side walls of the cage and the support arms of the adapter, areleasable latching connection is formed between the cage and theadapter, with the result that the cage is locked on the support frame atany desired positions during the latching condition. Consequently, thecage can be pivoted, rotated or otherwise moved together with thesupport frame without the cage being detached from the support frame.

Due to the undercut connection between the side walls of the cage andthe support arms of the adapter, these two components can be connectedor disconnected from one another quickly and easily.

In order to produce the undercut between the respective side walls andthe support arms, which accordingly form the latching connection inpairs, a flexurally elastic spring bar is provided on at least twoopposite side walls of the cage, which spring bar protrudes in theunloaded condition in certain regions from the plane formed by the sidewall and has a latching lug facing the respective support arms of theadapter, because the outwardly protruding latching lug can thus comeinto operative contact with one of the respective support arms of theadapter.

For this purpose, the cross-section of the support arm is designed as aclosed box section and the web of the box section facing the upper edgeof the cage comes into operative contact with the latching lug of thespring bar as soon as the spring bar dips into the interior of the boxsection. Accordingly, in the unloaded condition, the spring bar runsinside the box section of the respective support arm and the latchinglug of the spring bar lies below the bar on top of the box section onits inner side and grips around it. In this way, the undercut betweenthe latching lug of the spring bar and the respective support arms ofthe adapter is established and can be released manually in astraightforward manner.

In order to be able to operate the spring bar, a projection is formed onit, which is accessible from the outside. Thus, a force can be manuallyapplied to the projection, causing the spring bar to move into theinterior of the cage and releasing the latching connection between thespring bar and the respective support arm. In this case, the spring barin the region of the base of the cage is mounted pivotably on therespective side wall of the cage in the manner of a hinge; at the sametime, the spring bar in the unloaded state thereby exerts an outwardlydirected prestressing force on the latching lug, as a result of whichthe operative connection between the latching lug and the bar of thesupport arm is permanently and reliably maintained.

The cages known in the prior art could not be moved when filled becausethe locking connection between the cage and the support frame wasdesigned as a pure plug-in connection which could not withstand acorresponding movement profile. It is particularly advantageous if thecage with the objects stored therein can be moved overhead or in otherarbitrary directions of movement in order to carry the correspondingcleaning liquids, coating media or to perform other working processes.For this purpose, it is necessary to close the cage with a lid. Inaddition, several such cages can be attached or placed on top of thecage which is sealed in this manner.

If several different objects are to be stored in a cage, it isadvantageous if a partition wall is attached to two opposite side wallsof the cage, by means of which the interior of the cage is divided.

The drawing shows a sample embodiment configured in accordance with thepresent invention, the details of which are explained below. In thedrawing,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a device with a cage in which a plurality of objects arefilled, with a support frame in which a plurality of accommodationopenings are incorporated and with an adapter which can on the one handbe fastened to the support frame and on the other hand fixes the cage,in perspective view and in the state of insertion of the cage,

FIG. 2 shows the device in accordance with FIG. 1, in an exploded viewand in the state of separation,

FIG. 3 shows a section along the line III-III, in accordance with FIG.2,

FIG. 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV, in accordance with FIG. 2and

FIG. 5 shows the cage in accordance with FIG. 1, with two partitionwalls inserted therein to form three internal spaces within the cage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 1 by which one of a plurality of differentlyconfigured objects 2 are accommodated during a transport, storage orprocessing operation. In this regard, the device 1 chiefly comprises asupport frame 4 in which a plurality of accommodation openings 5 areformed, a cage 6 having four side walls 7 ₁, 7 ₂, 7 ₃ and 7 ₄ which,together with a base 8 attached thereto, form an inner space 10. Theobjects 2 can be filled into the inner space 10 of the cage 6 which isconfigured in this manner. The upper edge of each of the four side walls7 ₁ to 7 ₄ facing away from the base 8 is marked with the referencenumeral 9. The end face of the cage 6 enclosed by the upper edge 9 isopen for the filling process of the objects 2.

In addition, the device 1 is associated with an adapter 11 in the centreof which a vertically projecting holding pedestal 12 is formed. Theholding pedestal 12 can be inserted into one of the accommodationopenings 5 of the support frame 4 and locked therein. Consequently, theadapter 11 is positionally and releasably coupled to the support frame 4in the fixed condition.

The adapter 11 consists of four support arms 13 ₁, 13 ₂, 13 ₃ and 13 ₄extending perpendicular to one another, through which a rectangularinner space 14 is formed.

In this regard, the dimensions of the support arms 13 ₁ to 13 ₄correspond to the largest dimensions of the outer contour of the cage 6,so that the cage 6 can be inserted between and locked with the foursupport arms 13 ₁ to 13 ₄ of the adapter 11, as explained in more detailbelow.

A plurality of recesses 18 are formed or provided in the side walls 7 ₁to 7 ₄, in order to make the cage 6 as permeable as possible to liquidor gaseous media which are intended to reach the objects 2 stored in thecage 6.

Two spring bars 15 are provided on two opposing side walls 7 ₁ and 7 ₃of the cage 6. In particular, it can be seen from FIG. 3 that therespective spring bars 15 in the area of the base 8 are pivotablymounted in the manner of a hinge. The free end of the spring bar 15 isarranged in the area of the upper edge 9 and an air gap 30 is providedbetween the free end 15′ and the upper edge 9. Thus, the spring bar 15can be moved inwards or outwards.

A latching lug 16 is formed or provided on the outside of the respectivespring bar 15, which extends outside the plane formed by the side wall 7₁ or 7 ₃. A projection 17 is formed between the latching lug 16 and thefree end 15′ of the spring bar 15, which is accessible from the outside.The projection 17 is used to manually operate the spring bar 15 so as topivot it about the spring bar 15 in the manner of a hinge, as explainedabove.

The support arms 13 ₁ and 13 ₃ comprise two legs 26, 27 arrangedperpendicular to one another, which consequently form an L-shapedcross-sectional contour.

The first leg 26 acts as a stop for the cage 6 once it is fully insertedinto the inner space 14 of the adapter 11. The second leg 27 has a boxsection 28 which is closed in cross-section and extends parallel to therespective side wall 7 ₁ or 7 ₃ of the cage 6. The geometry of the boxsection 28 of the respective support arms 13 ₁ or 13 ₃ is designed insuch a way that it is slightly larger than the length and width of thespring bar 15. Consequently, the box section 28 of the legs 27 surroundsthe spring bar 15.

When the cage 6 is moved in the direction of the adapter 11, theoutwardly projecting latching lug 16 of the spring bar 15 comes intooperative contact with one web 29 of the box section, which is parallelto and spaced apart from the first leg 26. Accordingly, the two opposingwebs 29 of the support arms 13 ₁ and 13 ₃ press the respective springbar 15 into the inner space 10 of the cage 6 and the latching lug 16passes over the web 29. As soon as the latching lug 16 has completelypassed over the web 29, the spring bar 15 snaps back into its initialposition and the latching lug 16 rests below the web 29. Accordingly,the latching lug 16 and the web 29 form an undercut by which the cage 6is held oriented in position on the adapter 11.

In the sample embodiment shown, all four legs 27 of the support arms 132and 134 of the adapter 11 are likewise formed with a box section 28which is closed in cross-section, so that the cage 6 can be insertedinto the adapter 11 in any position irrespective of the configurationsof the support arms 13 ₁ to 13 ₄.

To release the cage 6 from the adapter 11, the projection 17 can bemanually pushed inwards so that the latching lug 16 disengages from theunderside of the web 26, allowing the cage 6 to be pushed out of theadapter 11.

FIG. 2 further shows that the cage 6 is closed by means of a lid 19. Inorder to achieve reliable locking between the lid 19 and the upper edge9 of the cage 6, a holding profile 20 with a U-shaped cross-section isprovided on the latter, which consequently has a U-shaped guide channel.In particular, it can be seen from FIG. 4 that a retaining lug 21 isformed on the outside of the upper edge 9, which projects perpendicularfrom the side wall 7 ₂ or 7 ₄. Accordingly, the lid 19 can be pushed onlaterally along the upper edge 9 and the respective retaining lug 21engages in the U-shaped guide channel of the holding profile 20 of thelid 19. To prevent the lid 19 from slipping, a guide bar 25 is providedadjacent the holding profile 20 and extends perpendicular from the lid19 into the interior of the cage 6.

It can be seen from FIG. 5 that the inner space 10 of the cage 6 can bedivided into three smaller inner spaces 10′, 10″ and 10″′ by means oftwo partition walls 22.

Each respective partition wall 22 has two latching lugs 24 formed onopposite side walls 23, which can be snapped into recesses 18 in theside walls 7 ₁ to 7 ₄.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device (1) for holding objects (2), consistingof: a plate-shaped support frame (4) in which a plurality ofaccommodation openings (5) are incorporated, and a cage (6) suitable foraccommodating the respective objects (2), which cage (6) has four sidewalls (7 ₁ to 7 ₄) extending perpendicular to one another and a base (8)arranged between them, characterized in that, an adapter (11) isprovided between the support frame (4) and the cage (6), which adapter(11) has a holding pedestal (12) projecting in the direction of thesupport frame (4), the holding pedestal (12) can be inserted into one ofthe accommodation openings (5) of the support frame (4) and lockedtherein, and the adapter (11) is made up of four support arms (13 ₁, 13₂, 13 ₃, 13 ₄) which are perpendicular to one another and by means ofwhich a rectangular inner space (14) is formed in which the cage (6) canbe inserted and is fixed by at least two undercuts which are formedrespectively between two pairs of side walls (7 ₁, 7 ₃ or 7 ₂, 7 ₄) ofthe cage (6) and the support arms (13 ₁, 13 ₃ or 13 ₂, 13 ₄) of theadapter (11).
 2. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized inthat, a flexurally elastic spring bar (15) is provided on at least twoopposite side walls (7 ₁, 7 ₃ or 7 ₂, 7 ₄) of the cage (6), which springbar (15) projects in regions from the plane formed by the side wall (7₁, 7 ₃ or 7 ₂, 7 ₄) in the unloaded condition and has a latching lug(16) facing the respective support arms (13 ₁, 13 ₂, 13 ₃, 13 ₄) of theadapter (11), in such a way that, when the cage (6) is inserted into theadapter (11), the respective spring bar (15) of the cage (6) is pressedinwards by its latching lug (16) and the latching lug (16) forms anon-positive or frictional operative connection with the respectivesupport arms (13 ₁, 13 ₂, 13 ₃, 13 ₄), by means of which the cage (6) isfixed to the adapter (11) in the manner of an undercut.
 3. The device inaccordance with claim 2, characterized in that, a projection (17) isformed or provided on the spring bar (15) between the upper edge (9) ofthe cage (6) and the latching lug (16) of the spring bar (15), whichprojection (17) is accessible from the outside.
 4. The device inaccordance with claim 2, characterized in that, the spring bar (15) inthe region of the base (8) of the cage (6) is mounted pivotably on therespective side wall (7 ₁, 7 ₃ or 7 ₂, 7 ₄) of the cage (6) in themanner of a hinge, and in that the opposite free end (15′) of the springbar (15) is spaced apart from the upper edge (9) by an air gap (30). 5.The device in accordance with one of the claim 1, characterized in that,a plurality of recesses (18) are formed in each of the side walls (7 ₁to 7 ₄) of the cage (6) through which recesses (18) a medium passes intothe inner space (10) of the cage (6).
 6. The device in accordance withone of the claim 1, characterized in that, the top of the cage (6) canbe closed by means of a lid (19).
 7. The device in accordance with claim6, characterized in that, two holding profiles (20) with U-shaped guidechannels are provided on the lid (19), which holding profiles areintegrally formed or provided on the opposite sides of the lid (19), andin that two retaining lugs (21) which interact with the guide channelsof the holding profiles (20) are arranged on the upper edge (9) of thecage (6), which retaining lugs (21) protrude outwards and by means ofwhich the lid (19), after it has been inserted or connected to the cage(6), is locked by the connection of the guide channels to the retaininglugs (21).
 8. The device in accordance with one of the claim 1,characterized in that, at least one partition wall (22) can be insertedinto the inner space (10) of the cage (6), which partition wall is fixedto two of the opposite side walls (7 ₁, 7 ₃ or 7 ₂, 7 ₄) of the cage (6)and by means of which the cage (6) is divided into at least two innerspaces (10′, 10″) which are separated from one another.
 9. The device inaccordance with claim 8, characterized in that, at least one latchinglug (24) projecting from the respective partition wall (22) in the areaof the two opposite narrow sides is integrally formed on the partitionwall (22), the latching lug (24) being transferred into a non-positiveor frictional operative connection with the respective side wall (7 ₁, 7₃ or 7 ₂, 7 ₄) of the cage (6) in the manner of a clip closure.
 10. Thedevice in accordance with one of the claim 1, characterized in that, thesupport arms (13 ₁, 13 ₂, 13 ₃, 13 ₄) of the adapter (11) which are usedfor fixing the cage (6) comprise two legs (26, 27) which are aligned inan L-shape with respect to one another, in that the first leg (26)serves as a base or stop for the cage (6), and in that the second leg(27) is designed in cross-section as a closed box section (28).
 11. Thedevice in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that, one of thewebs (29) enclosing the box section (28), which runs parallel to and ata distance from the first leg (26), serves as a stop for the latchinglug (16) of the spring bar (15) in the installed condition of the cage(6).
 12. The device in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that,the width and length of the box section (28) are slightly larger thanthe width and length of the spring bar (15).